Petunia-calibrachoa hybrid plant named &#39;SAKPXC016&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia - Calibrachoa  hybrid plant particularly distinguished by having pink flower color with darker pink veins and a yellow throat and a spreading plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia-Calibrachoa intergeneric hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKPXC016’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofPetunia-Calibrachoa (Petchoa) referred to by the variety name‘SAKPXC016’. ‘SAKPXC016’ originated from a hybridization in Kakegawa,Japan in December 2009 between the proprietary female Petunia line‘AM6-81A-1A-1A-1A’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Calibrachoaline ‘8B-43A-V1’.

In January 2010, an F1 generation from the initial hybridization wasgrown and approximately 41 seeds were obtained. In July 2010, 6 plantsfrom the F1 generation of seeds were cultivated in a greenhouse. F1plants exhibited pink and lavender flower colors with mounding andsemi-mounding habits. In July 2010, a single plant was selected anddesignated ‘K2011-J-120’ which had pink flowers with a yellow eye color,vigorous blooming, and a mounding habit. In August 2010, the selectionwas first vegetatively propagated to produce rooted cuttings and plantsof the selection were cultivated and evaluated in an open field. InNovember 2010, the selection was observed to have its distinctivecharacteristics remain stable. In December 2010, the selection waspropagated again and plants were cultivated. In April 2011,‘K2011-J-120’ was observed to have its distinct characteristics remainstable. ‘K2011-J-120’ was confirmed that the distinct characteristics ofthe plant were fixed and stable. All breeding work was conducted at theKakegawa research station in Kakegawa, Japan. ‘K2011-J-120’ was laternamed ‘SAKPXC016’ and was found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Salinas,Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

1. Pink flower color with darker pink veins and a yellow throat; and

2. A spreading plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Petunia-Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form,foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a plant grown in Salinas,Calif. under greenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as canbe reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the foliage, buds, and flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKPXC016’. Color references are to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.),4^(th) edition. Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge IllustratedGlossary of Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, CambridgeUniversity.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Botanical.—Petunia-Calibrachoa hybrid.        -   Common.—Petchoa, petunia-calibrachoa.        -   Designation.—‘SAKPXC016’.-   Growth:    -   -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0            to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.            The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution:9 water), a root            inducing solution, immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. For the first week, the cuttings were misted            with water from overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes            until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were            transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a            glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a            peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer            containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium            was applied once a day or every other day by overhead            irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release            fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18%            potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Petunia line            ‘AM6-81A-1A-1A-1A’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary Calibrachoa line ‘8B-43A-V1’            (unpatented).-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Mounding.        -   Height.—20.0 cm from the soil line to the top of the            foliage.        -   Spread.—60.0 cm.        -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Time and conditions to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—8 to 10 weeks.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as day length is            greater than 12 hours and temperature exceeds 13° C.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).        -   Anthocyanin color.—Absent.        -   Pubescence.—Moderate.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Description.—Dull, circular in cross-section.        -   Stem diameter.—4.0 mm for the main stems/branches; 2.0 mm            for the secondary branches/stems.        -   Stem length.—length of entire stem from end to end to 18.0            cm; length from the soil line to the first node is 1.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.0 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface appearance.—Dull.        -   Length.—5.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B (Green) Lower surface: RHS            138B (Green).        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Surface pubescence.—Light pubescence.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Petiole.—Absent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.-   Flowers:    -   -   Total number of flowers per plant.—Approximately 110.        -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary.        -   Flowering habit.—Indeterminate.        -   Duration of flower life on the plant.—5 days.        -   Shape.—The flowers are funnel shaped with five fissures and            a shallow, yet prominent, indentation of the petal tip at            the mid-vein.        -   Flower diameter.—6.0 cm.        -   Flower depth.—0.5 cm.        -   Corolla.—Composed of 5 petals, fused.        -   Petals.—Shape: Bilabiate, fused, margin cleaved Length: 3.0            cm Width: 2.4 cm Apex: Truncate Margin: Entire Pubescence:            Glabrous Color: Upper lobes: Closest to but brighter than            RHS N74A (Red-Purple) with RHS 12A (Yellow) eye Lower lobes:            RHS N74C (Red-Purple).        -   Corolla tube, inner surface color.—Closest to RHS 12A            (Yellow).        -   Corolla tube, outer surface color.—RHS 4C (Yellow) with RHS            144C (Yellow-Green) veins.        -   Flower tube length.—2.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Flower tube pubescence.—Absent in the inner surface and            slight on the outer surface.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Composed of 5 sepals, fused below the middle.        -   Sepal.—Shape: Elliptical Apex: Obtuse Margin: Entire Length:            2.5 cm Diameter: 1.0 mm Color: Upper surface: RHS 138A            (Green) Lower surface: RHS 138A (Green).-   Bud:    -   -   Surface texture.—Pubescent.        -   Length.—3.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—RHS N81B (Purple-Violet) with RHS N77A (Purple)            veins.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.        -   Color.—RHS 144 A (Yellow-Green) with very slight anthocyanin            on some, anthocyanin color is RHS N187A (Greyed-Purple).        -   Surface texture and appearance.—Dull, moderate pubescence,            pubescence color is RHS N155A (White).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Ovary.—Superior.        -   Placenta arrangement.—Central.        -   Pistil number.—1 per flower.        -   Pistil length.—1.6 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 143C (Green).        -   Style length.—1.5 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 145C (Yellow-Green).        -   Stamens number and form.—5, free.        -   Stamen length.—1.0 cm.        -   Stamen color.—RHS 154 D (Yellow-Green).        -   Filament color.—RHS 11B (Yellow).        -   Pollen color.—RHS 12A (Yellow).        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Seed production: None observed.-   Environmental conditions, disease and insect resistance: Excellent    resistance to rain, heat and drought. Will not tolerate temperatures    below 10° C. Plants are susceptible to Botrytis, powdery mildew,    various stem and root rots, and certain viruses, like Tobacco Mosaic    Virus and Impatiens Necrotic Spotted Virus. Plants can be infested    with aphids, leafminer, whitefly and various Lepitopdera.-   Comparison with parental lines and known variety: ‘SAKPXC016’ is    distinguished from its parents as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent ‘AM6-81A- MaleParent Characteristic ‘SAKPXC016’ 1A-1A-1A’ ‘8B-43A-V1’ Flower colorDeeper coloration Pink with Lavender of pink than yellow eye parentallines with yellow eye Plant growth habit Mounding with Mounding Compactmore branching than parental lines

-   When ‘ SAKPXC016’ is compared to the commercial variety ‘Kakegawa    S84’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,698), the following differences as    described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKPXC016’‘Kakegawa S84’ Petal color, upper surface Closest to but brighter thanRHS 73B RHS N74A (Red-Purple) with (red-purple) RHS 12A (Yellow) eyePetal color, lower surface RHS N74C (Red-Purple) RHS N155A (white) Plantgrowth habit Mounding Mounding

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia-Calibrachoa hybrid plant as illustrated and described herein. 